Public Involvement Meeting #4

August 4, 2016

Wisconsin Department of Transportation• Mark Westerveld – DOT Project Manager• Tom Koprowski – DOT Transportation Planner• Brandon Lamers – DOT Supervisor• Joel Brown – DOT Major Studies Environmental Coordinator• Colleen Hoesly – DOT Transportation Planner• Greg Messling – DOT Real Estate Specialist

Ayres Associates• Matt Barr – Project Manager• Dan Schrum – Design Engineer

TranSmart Technologies • Charles Wade – Transportation Planner

• Project Overview• Review purpose and need of study• Discuss official “mapping” process• Discuss stakeholder concerns to date• Summarize impacts of freeway conversion• Discuss alternatives carried forward and the

Recommended Alternative• Gather input

Project Limits• Columbus to Waupun

• WIS 73 interchange to WIS 49 interchange

• Total length approx. 27 miles

• Analyze US 151 corridor for conversion to freeway facility (Majority of US 151 within study limits is currently an expressway)• Expressway

• Four-lane divided roadway• Limited access to mainline for side roads and

private entrances

• Freeway• Four-lane divided roadway• Access to mainline only allowed at interchanges

• Columbus Bypass - 1991• Columbus to Beaver Dam

Expressway - 1993 • Beaver Dam Bypass - 1996• Beaver Dam to Waupun

Expressway - 1997• Beaver Dam Bypass – 2008• County D Interchange - 2011• STH 33 – 2014• Guardrail replacement

project - 2014

• Long-term plan and importance of highway• Connections 2030 Backbone Route

• Corridor Preservation

• Address increasing growth and development

• Facilitate planning for future land use and transportation needs

• Maintain long-term safety and operations

CORRIDOR

STUDY

Public Involvement

Preliminary Concepts

EA &

DESIGN

Environmental

Assessment

Range of Alternatives

Evaluation of Effects

FREEWAY

DECLARATION

&

OFFICIAL

MAP

We Are Here

• State Statute (Wis. Stat. 84.295(10)) authorizes WisDOT to create and update an official map for future freeways and expressways

• An official map allows WisDOT to preserve, protect, and set aside future right-of-way for US 151 where freeway design is being planned

• An official map also informs and enables landowners, the public, and local agencies to plan their future in ways that won’t conflict with the future highway improvements

• WisDOT will map and preserve land required to convert US 151 to a freeway under Wis. Statutes 84.295(10) including:

• Interchanges

• Grade separations (overpass/underpass)

• Alterations to existing public and private access points

• Alterations, removals, or additions to the local road system

• WIS 73 - Full diamond interchange

• County D – Reconstructed to full diamond interchange in 2012

• County G - Full diamond• WIS 33 - Full diamond• Industrial Drive - Half diamond• County B - Full diamond

STH 73 Interchange

Existing interchanges likely to remain

• County A - Full diamond• County M

• 2 movements allowed now

• WIS 26 - Full diamond• WIS 49 - Full diamond

County A Interchange

Existing interchanges likely to remain

Side roads• Access to US 151 relocated to

interchanges

• Modifications to local road network required

• Desirable distance between ramp terminals and frontage road is ¼ mile, min. 1,000’

• Overpass or underpass crossings of US 151

Redwood Road

Private access• All direct access removed

from US 151 include:• Commercial entrances• Driveways• Agricultural entrances

• Access to US 151 only at interchanges

• Frontage roads to provide connections to interchanges and local roads

Business along US 151

Eliminate at-grade railroad crossings • Crossing of Wis. Southern east of Beaver

Dam• Raise US 151 over railroad• US 151 spans both railroad and County E

• Crossing of Wis. Southern south of Waupun• Raise US 151 over railroad

• Overpass of Union Pacific crossing south of Beaver Dam to remain

At-grade RR crossing

• Environmental Data Collection

• Agency Input

• Developed Preliminary Concepts

• Completed a Value Planning Study

• Held 3 Public Involvement Meetings and 4 Local Officials Meetings

• Refined Preliminary Concepts and Developed a Recommended Alternative

• Division of farm properties resulting from loss of at-grade crossings of US 151

• Possible need to create alternative crossings of US 151 to serve farmers

• Longer and less direct commutes for some residents on/near the US 151 corridor

• Need for new local roads or extended driveways to replace direct access to US 151

• Impact on existing and proposed crossings for recreational users (snowmobiles, bicycles, etc.)

• Business access on Klatt Road

• Possible disincentive for non-agricultural development near the US 151 corridor where access is eliminated

• Possible increased pressure to develop near potential new interchanges

• Possible removal/relocation of buildings

• Likely increases in traffic on remaining routes with access to US 151

• Safety concerns at County C intersection

STUDY SECTIONS

• South Section• Columbus to Beaver Dam

• Central Section• Beaver Dam

• North Section• Beaver Dam to Waupun

Where did we begin?

19 Alternatives Initially Developed

• 10 South Section Alternatives: Columbus to Beaver Dam (Alternatives numbered 1 through 3; A,B,C,D)

• 9 North Section Alternatives: Beaver Dam to Waupun (Alternatives numbered 4 through 7; A,B,C)

• Central Section Alternative: Beaver Dam

Factor Matrix Evaluation

5 Alternatives Identified for Further Analysis

• 2 South Section Alternatives: Columbus to Beaver Dam (1C, 3C)

• 3 North Segment Alternatives: Beaver Dam to Waupun (5B, 5B Modified, 7A)• 5B Modified – new alternative since the last round of public

meetings; includes a partial cloverleaf interchange with County C vs. diamond

• Central Section Alternative: Beaver Dam

• South Section: Columbus to Beaver Dam (3C)

• North Section: Beaver Dam to Waupun (5B)

• Central Section

RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE

SOUTH SECTIONInterchange at County S

Overpasses at Salem Road, Forest Road and County DE

Reasons selected as the Recommended Alternative:

• Best Factor Matrix score• Less total land converted to

right-of-way• Fewer building relocations• Less relocated property

access• Fewer wetland impacts

RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE

SOUTH SECTION

Interchange at County S

RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE

SOUTH SECTION

Overpass County DE

RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE

CENTRAL SECTIONConsistent approach for all alternatives

Overpass of County E and Wisconsin & Southern RR

Frontage road connection from Kellom Road to Hemlock Road

RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVENORTH SECTIONInterchanges at County C and County M (half diamond)

Overpasses at Breezy Point Road and Oakwood Road

Reasons selected as the Recommended Alternative:

• Best Factor Matrix Score• New interchange with County C vs.

Redwood Road• Conventional diamond interchange

design at County C• Less total land converted to ROW• Fewer wetland impacts

RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVENORTH SECTION

Interchange at County C

RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVENORTH SECTION

Interchange County M (half diamond)

• Wis. Stats. 84.295 and official mapping does not include construction

• No construction or project dollars are programmed at this time

• Possibly programmed, funded, and constructed over several decades or phases

• Funding is examined statewide• Short-term options may also be considered such

as intersection improvements and driveways and/or median alterations

• Comment Forms• Available at the check-in

desk• We encourage you to

provide us your feedback• Forms can be filled out

and submitted today or mailed by the specified date

Environmental Document 2016 - 2017Prepare Official Map 2019 - 2021

Mark WesterveldProject ManagerWisconsin Department of TransportationSouthwest Region – Madison2101 Wright StreetMadison, WI 53704-2583(608) 246-5355mark.westerveld@dot.wi.gov

Matthew BarrProject ManagerAyres Associates5201 E. Terrace Drive, Suite 200Madison, WI 53718(608) 443-1261barrm@ayresassociates.com

http://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/151/default.aspx

Project contacts

Project website